Missouri court clears path for midterm gerrymander amid referendum push

A Missouri circuit judge ruled that Republicans can implement a new gerrymandered congressional map for the 2026 midterms before voters can weigh in via a veto referendum, effectively sidelining the voters’ constitutional referendum rights and giving the GOP an electoral edge. The ruling is likely to be appealed, and with the March 31 candidate filing deadline, challengers may run out of time to block the map. Plaintiffs say the map should be suspended until the vote, while Republicans have pursued procedural delays; regardless, the practical effect is that the map stands for 2026 unless higher courts intervene.